Results 11,781-11,800 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payments (19 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: According to the records of this Department a recent application for an exceptional needs payment has not been submitted by the person concerned. It is open to her to submit an application to her local Community Welfare Service.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payments (19 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: According to the records of this Department, a recent application for an exceptional needs payment has not been submitted by the person concerned. It is open to her to submit an application to her local Community Welfare Service.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare (19 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: In September 2013, I published the Third Report of the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare on Extending Social Insurance Coverage for the self-employed. The Group was asked to examine and report on issues involved in extending social insurance coverage for self-employed people in order to establish whether or not such cover is technically feasible and financially sustainable, with the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Labour Activation Measures (19 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The data requested by the Deputy is currently being compiled and will be forwarded to her as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Properties (19 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: As part of the plan for the roll-out of Intreo Centres, the Lucan/Adamstown and Clondalkin areas have been designated by the Department for the provision of Intreo services in Dublin Mid West. The Office of Public Works has been exploring options in both Lucan and Adamstown for an Intreo Centre, but given the limited choice of suitably sized and located offices, complex property and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Investigations (19 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: Defined benefit pension schemes in Ireland are, in general, set up under trust law. The trustees of such pension schemes have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of all scheme members. In addition, the Pensions Act, 1990 provides for the regulation of occupational pension schemes and Personal Retirement Savings Accounts. The Pensions Act sets down clearly the duties and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Provisions (19 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: State pensions account for the single largest block of social welfare expenditure, and while expenditure on pensions is increasing because of demographic pressures, this is being successfully managed within the overall welfare budget. This year, the Department of Social Protection will spend an estimated €6.675 billion on pensions – 34.4% of all welfare expenditure and an...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Data (18 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The back to education allowance scheme is an administrative scheme and is payable to persons who are already in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment. I am informed that there were 25,032, 25,700, 25,886, 24,996 and 23,366 persons participating on the back to education allowance at the end of December in each of the years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals (18 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 20th January 2015. This application has been forwarded to one of the Department's Medical Assessors for their medical opinion. Following receipt of this opinion, a decision will be made by a Deciding Officer and notified to the person concerned. It can currently take 10 weeks to process an...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (18 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 3rdFebruary 2015, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Appeals (18 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing on 3rdMarch 2015. The person concerned will be notified of the arrangements. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (18 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision on the 3rdSeptember 2014. Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of the Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by the Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme Applications (18 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The application and further medical evidence submitted in respect of application for a Companion Free Travel Pass from the customer named above was medically assessed by a Medical Assessor on 16 February 2015. The medical opinion has been conveyed to Household Benefits Section, Sligo and the customer will be contacted shortly regarding the decision on the application.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Eligibility (18 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The National Fuel Scheme applies to persons in receipt of long term Social Welfare payments. The allowance is subject to a means test and is paid only to those who live alone or with certain exempted people. Full details of the qualifying criteria for the scheme are available on the Department's website www.welfare.ie. On 13 January 2015, the department received a claim for fuel allowance...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (18 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: Following a recent decision by the Social Welfare Appeals Office on the widow's non-contributory pension application of the person concerned, their application for widow's contributory pension is being reviewed by a Deciding Officer. On completion of the review, the person concerned will be notified of the outcome. In the meantime, the person concerned will continue to receive their...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Communications (18 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The Department of Social Protection is committed to the provision of information to all of its customers in clear and easy to access formats, which adhere to the guidelines outlined by the National Adult Literacy Agency. The Department fully recognises the barrier that literacy difficulties can cause for individuals trying to gain an understanding of and access to services and supports...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (18 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: According to the records of this Department no documentation has been supplied by the person concerned to confirm a recent change in her rent payable. Rent supplement forms will be forwarded by the local Community Welfare Service to the person concerned for completion and to facilitate a full review of her current rent supplement.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Tax and Social Welfare Codes (17 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 to 175, inclusive, together. Prior to the enactment of the Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 the practice in my Department had been that company directors holding 50% or more of the shareholding of a company were not normally regarded as being in a master/servant relationship and therefore were deemed to have a contract for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme (17 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: Travel operators must comply with a number of terms and conditions when entering the free travel scheme. In this regard they must – - conduct surveys of free travel customers to the Department's specification; - provide copies of their motor insurance policies indemnifying the Department and providing for public liability; and - provide copies of the public service vehicle licences...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (17 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 3rdFebruary 2015, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department...